Bldg Tech - Structural: Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop Summary of Notes

(Note: This is MY summary of the notes notes from the Norman Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop, for complete notes, visit the areforum.com ftp site.)
Building Technology Division
General
- Don't tweak your designs if you have extra time - you will run out of time, most likely in the middle of tweaking.
- computer does not grade on quality of design, only check against code/program data

Structural (general)
- Only design for vertical loads, no lateral (pretend you're on the moon)

- Watch for two level roof

- Read entire program, make shorthand notes of requirements
- high ceiling areas
- clerestory location, etc.

- Show all elements of support (think checklist, see below)
- Identify high ceiling roof (see program)
- Dorf suggests column and beam only
- Bearing walls and Lintels can be used but can be more complicated
- Personally I only suggest for low roof structure

Drawing order:

Lower level:
(note: Dorf suggests starting at Upper, I prefer switching between upper and lower plans a couple times to get familiar and starting at lower. Do what's comfortable to you.)
(time saver note: draw all of one element at the same time, zoom into one room and pan around with scroll bars at side and bottom of screen. This will save from switching to different tools.)

- Bearing walls first
- Most solutions can be solved without bearing walls, use at your own risk
- Don't use at window walls
- No bearing walls on top of col's BUT col's on top of bearing walls acceptable
- Don't forget Lintels: Extend into wall 4-6 inches

- Columns next (or first if not using bearing walls)
- See timesaver note above
- Layout for maximum spans (typically not in program)
- See Joist and Beam below
- See program but typically ok in window walls and clerestory.
- Must be in walls/window, NOT in open space or openings

- Beams: ~20'-40' spans +/- is considered economical
- Extend beams to middle of column, DO NOT stop at edge of column
- Beam can be continuous over intermediate columns

- Joists = ~30' span range is considered economical
- Span in shortest direction, keep all spans same direction if possible
- Joist spacing = Max Deck span in program requirements
- Move/adjust joist spacing layout to middle of existing walls on ALL sides
- Ensure Joists are showing at parallel endwalls to provide decking support
- Provide bearing at end span walls perpendicular to joists only, none required at parallel walls.

- Decking: draw to middle of existing walls / new beams
- Runs perpendicular to Joists

- Clerestory: Dont' draw on lower level but:
- Don't forget beam at this level under clerestory for support, check program for clerestory location.


Upper Level:

- Columns: draw and stack over lower level colums at high roof area

- Beams: if you add any columns to reduce spans, be sure to add it on lower level plan too.
- see beam rules above

- Joists: See joist rules above
- check program for high roof requirements

- Decking: (Don't forget the decking!)
- See decking rules above


Fatal flaws:

- Missing elements

- Columns inside rooms (keep in walls)

- columns in openings

- clerestory location

- too many columns

- over structured

- redundancy

- un-needed bearing walls / beams

- over max spans

- Upper columns missing columns below

- column offsets (asume this means upper and lower not aligning (zoom people!))

- Beams / Joists: be sure they overlap bearing structure, nothing stops adjacent, everything sits on something
- beams onto columns: passover or to middle of end column
- joists to center of walls/beams: align joist over ends at non bearing parallel walls (how else will you support the decking)

- decking to center of walls

- Bearing wall openings, Don't forget the lintels, make sure they overlap the wall 4"-6"


Checklist:

- review
- program (take shorthand notes)
- review plans (switch between upper and lower)
- some requirements will show up in plan that are not mentioned in the program and vise versa

- draw stacking columns on both levels

- beams or bearing walls at all perpendicular joist bearing points

- Lintels in bearing walls

- beam at lower level to support under clerestory

- Joists

- Decking